The European climax of the HSBC Sevens World Series kicked off in Scotland with Round Eight this weekend, the Glasgow Sevens at Scotstoun Stadium. The Tournament ran from Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May.

With ONE more game to go, who will take the CUP, South Africa or New Zealand?

Well, that question was answered in Green and Gold… Blitzbokke take the Glasgow title, with a win by 28 / 21.

Background to this week:

The event is a key stepping stone towards the World Cup Sevens in Moscow in June, but in the short term several nations have their eyes fixed on battles at the top and bottom of the Series table.

Defending Glasgow and Series champions New Zealand lead the overall race by 32 points.

However, just six points separate South Africa, Fiji and Samoa in second, third and fourth.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table the battle to avoid core team relegation guarantees intensity across the entire match schedule.

At the London Sevens at Twickenham next week (May 11 and 12) the core teams ranked 13th, 14th and 15th – after this week’s Glasgow event – will play off for three core team places next season, with Asian champions Hong Kong, Russia, Zimbabwe, Tonga and Georgia.

Currently, tournament hosts Scotland are tied in joint 12th place with United States, above Portugal and Spain – meaning that Scotland and United States are most likely battling to out-perform each other in Glasgow and safeguard their core team status for 2013/14.

* The new format, allowing for promotion and relegation from core team status, was introduced this season to allow for a system that gives all Member Unions a transparent and merit-based opportunity to qualify for the Series, and ultimately the Olympic Games in 2016.

Saturday 4 May Results

Match	Kick-Off	Team	Score			Team	Pool
1.	10:30	Australia	10	–	17	Argentina	Pool C
2.	10:52	Fiji	45	–	0	Spain	Pool C
3.	11:14	France	14	–	22	Wales	Pool D
4.	11:36	USA	48	–	5	Russia	Pool D
5.	11:58	South Africa	17	–	14	Kenya	Pool A
6.	12:20	Samoa	17	–	19	Canada	Pool A
7.	12:42	New Zealand	31	–	5	England	Pool B
8.	13:04	Scotland	26	–	5	Portugal	Pool B
9.	13:36	Australia	42	–	14	Spain	Pool C
10.	13:58	Fiji	28	–	10	Argentina	Pool C
11.	14:20	France	15	–	14	Russia	Pool D
12.	14:42	USA	21	–	26	Wales	Pool D
13.	15:04	South Africa	17	–	14	Canada	Pool A
14.	15:26	Samoa	26	–	0	Kenya	Pool A
15.	15:48	New Zealand	40	–	0	Portugal	Pool B
16.	16:10	Scotland	7	–	29	England	Pool B
17.	16:47	Argentina	40	–	5	Spain	Pool C
18.	17:09	Wales	28	–	22	Russia	Pool D
19.	17:31	Kenya	10	–	21	Canada	Pool A
20.	17:53	England	46	–	0	Portugal	Pool B
21.	18:15	Australia	17	–	19	Fiji	Pool C
22.	18:37	France	14	–	21	USA	Pool D
23.	18:59	South Africa	27	–	0	Samoa	Pool A
24.	19:21	New Zealand	28	–	0	Scotland	Pool B
results and schedule courtesy of SRU

Sunday 5 May Results

Match	Kick-Off	Team	Score			Team	Competition
25.	10:30	Samoa	17	–	14	Russia	QF Bowl
26.	10:52	Australia	36	–	0	Portugal	QF Bowl
27.	11:14	France	7	–	22	Kenya	QF Bowl
28.	11:36	Scotland	31	–	5	Spain	QF Bowl
29.	11:58	South Africa	22	–	5	USA	QF Cup
30.	12:20	Fiji	12	–	15	England	QF Cup
31.	12:42	Wales	26	–	7	Canada	QF Cup
32.	13:04	New Zealand	42	–	10	Argentina	QF Cup
33.	13:46	Russia	41	–	7	Portugal	SF Shield
34.	14:08	France	41	–	0	Spain	SF Shield
35.	14:30	Samoa	12	–	17	Australia	SF Bowl
36.	14:52	Kenya	24	–	19	Scotland	SF Bowl
37.	15:14	USA	22	–	7	Fiji	SF Plate
38.	15:36	Canada	7	–	22	Argentina	SF Plate
39.	15:58	South Africa	24	–	17	England	SF Cup
40.	16:20	Wales	14	–	26	New Zealand	SF Cup
41.	16:52	Russia	17	–	21	France	Final Shield
42.	17:20	Australia	12	–	5	Kenya	Final Bowl
43.	17:48	USA	17	–	7	Argentina	Final Plate
44.	18:16	England	24	–	21	Wales	Third Place
45.	18:45	South Africa	28	–	21	New Zealand	Final Cup

Saturday’s Highlights

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFdOMRevnqU[/youtube]